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Military science is the US Army ROTC program offered at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Its objective is to attract, motivate, prepare, graduate and commission students with leadership potential to serve as commissioned officers in the Regular Army or the US Army Reserve and National Guard components; to provide an understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of military science; to develop leadership and managerial skills; to develop a basic understanding of associated professional knowledge with a strong sense of personal integrity, honor, and individual responsibility; and to develop an appreciation of the requirements for national security. Through military science classes and the ROTC program, the student who desires a commission may earn one while pursuing a degree.
The Reserve Officers Training Corps is a cooperative effort contractually agreed to by the Army and the University of Nebraska as a means of providing junior officer leadership in the interests of national security. It ensures that students educated in a broad spectrum of American institutions of higher learning are commissioned annually in the Army officer corps.
At the University of Nebraska at Kearney, military science is an elective program that a student may schedule in the same manner as any other elective course. The four-year program consists of a basic course, taken during the freshman and sophomore years, and an advanced course, taken during the junior and senior years. Academic credits earned may apply toward the student's degree, depending on the discipline. The program provides leadership training designed to qualify graduates for civilian careers in executive and management positions, or as commissioned officers in the US Army. The ROTC program promotes the mental, physical, moral, and leadership development of students.
Military science is not an academic major. Students earn commissions at the same time they earn an academic degree in any discipline of their choice. Credits earned through the Army ROTC program may apply toward a student's bachelor's degree. The curriculum cuts across conventional subject boundaries and becomes interdisciplinary. It encourages reflective thinking, goal seeking, and problem solving.
Basic and advanced courses in military science are listed each semester in the University's Schedule of Classes. In the basic course, students earn from 1 to 2 credits each semester; in the advanced course, 3 credits each semester. A total of 24 credit hours can be earned over the four academic years. Uniforms, textbooks, and equipment are furnished at no cost to the student.
Leadership training is required each semester as part of the military science curriculum. This training is accomplished through a leadership laboratory conducted two hours each week and one field training exercise each semester.
In the basic course, an understanding of teamwork and leadership techniques is developed. This foundation in leadership is enhanced through practical application in rappelling, land navigation and map reading, marksmanship, personal defense activities, survival swimming, military weapons training, drill and ceremony, leader reaction exercises, and simulated small unit tactical exercises in field situations.
Advanced course students plan, organize, and conduct the basic course leadership training program, field exercises, and enrichment activities. Leadership and managerial skills are further developed through these activities.
Military science academic (basic) courses may be taken for credit by any University of Nebraska at Kearney student. Military science advanced courses may only be taken by students who have contracted to earn a commission.
Students register for military science courses in the same manner as for any other accredited University course.
Students who have completed initial entry training in one of the armed services, Army Reserves, or Army National Guard, or attended one of the service academies may be granted partial or full credit for the basic course and enrolled in the advanced course. Additional credit for active military service or academy attendance may be granted by the Professor of Military Science.
ROTC credit earned at other universities or colleges is transferable to the University of Nebraska. Students who have participated in junior ROTC in high school for three years may be granted credit for the basic course and enrolled in the advanced course. Some credit is authorized for less than three years in junior ROTC upon review by the Professor of Military Science.
There is no service obligation incurred by taking ROTC in the freshman or sophomore year (basic course). If selected for and enrolled in the advanced course, the student will sign a contract with the U.S. government to complete the remaining two years of ROTC and to accept a commission as a second lieutenant, if offered, upon graduation and completion of ROTC program.
ROTC graduates incur one of several obligations. As commissioned officers, they may serve on active duty for a minimum period of three months for branch qualification and the remainder of eight years in an active Reserve component. A second option is to serve on active duty followed by service in the Reserve Forces for a total service of eight years. The third option is to become a Regular Army officer.
Four-year ROTC scholarships are offered on a competitive basis through a national selection board process to high school seniors who plan to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney and enroll in ROTC. Two-year to 3.5-year scholarships are available to qualified full-time undergraduate students actively participating in ROTC. Each scholarship could off set the cost of tuition, laboratory expenses, and fees or housing. A stipend of $600.00 per semester can be awarded for books and supplies, in addition to an allowance of $350-500 per month (tax free) for the school year. In addition, there are two-year scholarships available for those entering their junior year of undergraduate or pursuing a graduate degree, upon completion of Leader's Training Course (LTC).
Subsistence payment is made to all students contracted in the Army ROTC program and attending the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC). Students receive $450 (as a junior) and $500 (as a senior) per month during the school year session tax free. In addition, a sum of approximately $700 is received while attending LDAC. Contact the department chair for further information regarding scholarships.
Advanced course students must attend LDAC, normally during the summer between their junior and senior year. At the discretion of the Professor of Military Science, attendance may be postponed until the end of the advanced course.
LDAC consists of practical application of instruction that has been given by the ROTC program at the University. Students are placed in rotational leadership positions and lead others in the practice of land navigation, and employ the tactics they have learned. Cadets are evaluated in a variety of potentially stressful leadership situations. Leadership is emphasized. Students are paid travel expenses to and from the course and, in addition, receive pay of approximately $700 while there. All accommodations, clothing, and food are furnished.
This program accommodates students already enrolled at or transferring to the University of Nebraska who have not taken the basic course. Students enrolled in the two-year program may select one of several options. The first and best option is to successfully complete the Leaders Training Course (LTC) during the summer before entering the advanced course. Students are paid travel expenses to and from LTC. They receive approximately $700 in pay and free room and board. No military or ROTC obligation is incurred by LTC attendance. A second option is to take both the first-year and second year basic course programs at the same time. Any one of these options substitutes for the two-year basic course program. Upon entering the advanced course the two-year student takes the same curriculum as all other advanced course students.
Provisions of SMP permit full-time college students with two and, on a case-by-case basis three, years of college remaining to actively participate concurrently in the ROTC advanced course and a National Guard or Army Reserve unit.
Combined benefits include tuition assistance, Montgomery GI Bill-Select Reserve (if eligible), monthly pay, and monetary allowances during the school year. Once accepted into the program, the students enroll in Army ROTC courses along with those courses required for degree completion. The students meet with the National Guard or Army Reserve one weekend each month and serve as a non-deployable officer trainee with a minimum pay grade of E-5 or higher. The $450 (as a junior) and $500 (as a senior) monthly allowance received from ROTC is tax free. Participation in SMP will not interfere with other college assistance students may be receiving.
Upon successful completion of the training program and graduation, students will be eligible for a commission as a second lieutenant in the active Army, Army Reserve, or National Guard.
Interested and qualified cadets may volunteer for these summer schools which take place on active army posts. These are taken for increased professional development.
For selected advanced course cadets, three to four weeks of supplementary training are available in a junior officer position within an active Army unit after attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course. Selectees are given experience with command, training, administrative, and logistical functions of a company-level unit, and exposure to the on-duty and off-duty environment of junior officers.
Ranger Challenge Team, Ranger Company, Antelope Artillery, and Color Guard offer activities to enhance social, professional, and fellowship opportunities while attending the University.
The minor in Military Science is available for students pursuing majors in other disciplines.
Courses with the prefix MLSC are offered by the Military Science Program.
12 May 2015
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